Pros
It is a very casual work environment, which can be an adjustment for anyone coming from a ‘stuffy’ corporate setting. Staff are very pleasant and the overall culture of the company is easy going and fun; kind of like a college campus. The company invests a lot into their employees, spending money to keep them happy but also let them know they are appreciated. The pay is pretty good in comparison to other companies in the industry in the San Diego area. Location is ideal, and onsite amenities are excellent. Very smart people employed at ViaSat, but you never get the feeling any one is pretentious or too good for anyone else; employees really do help each other out. Certainly can get busy, but that is a pro in my book as it means days are never boring, challenges are always present and opportunities to learn are available. Additionally, it’s very exciting to know that ViaSat is expanding rapidly and obtaining several very good contracts….there is a sense of security in the company’s longevity as they continue to grow!
Cons
Some of their processes can be a bit convoluted when they don’t need to be. There isn’t usually a formal training process, essentially you learn on the fly and I found things that were never shown to me after several weeks of working there, plus depending on who you speak to there is a difference of opinion on how to do things. With most companies that are growing, there can be lots of change and adjustments. Occasionally, there is some ‘gossiping’, it never gets out of hand, but employees have a round-about way of reporting their grievances or issues. Leadership is not as visible and seem to blend into the mix, which can be good or bad depending on your preference. It may have been due to lack of internal talent, but there never seemed to be much internal movement. They are literally bursting at the seams, so times can seem chaotic, but if you can roll with the punches, eventually things will settle down.